Shipping tag



March 26, 1940. FLEMING 2,194,697

S HIPPING TAG Filed May 11, 1959 INVENTOR. ,5; YMOND [1 HEM/N6 ATTORNEY.

PatentediMar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE- This invention has to do with shipping tags and is concerned primarily with a novel arrangev t t succeeding the bight is twisted about the double strand of the .wire tie. 'With this'arrangern'ent ment for anchoring a wire tie to a tag. j Ordinarily, shipping tags are formed with an eyelet, the edges of which are usually reinforced by patches. It has been the conventional practice to employ a Wire tie element in securingthe tag to an article and this wire tie has been affixed to the tag by passing the same through the eyelet and twisting the two single strands of the wire together above the edge of the tag.

This practice has been followed Whether the main body portion of the tie is a single or double strand and certain disadvantages attach .to this now prevalent method, which are intended to be 1 remedied by this invention. In thefirs't place, the single strand of wire passing through "the eyelet presents a fairly sharp surface which has a tendency to cut the edge off the opening even though the latter is reinforced by the patches. This tendency has been so noticeably felt in many instances that frequently the patches have, been further reinforced by metallic vgrommets.

There is also a tendency for the single strand of wire to cut or score the upper edge of the tag above the eyelet.

When two single strands of wire are "twisted together tightly so as to effectthe'requiredsecure connection, the wireis bent over'a comparatively the wire. These sharp turns weaken the wire ties and, in many instances, the'ties are broken off at the twisting zone. I

Another noticeable disadvantage attending the use of the known practicefabovefdescribed is that there is no suitable anchorageto which the upper end of the tie may be secured after being passed around the article to which the'tag is to be attached. If the wire is twisted back on itself, the same undesirable feature, as to sharp turns in the wire, above-noted, occurs. Further more, if the free end of the wire is passed through the eyelet, the likelihood of the latter becoming scored or cut by the wire isfurther increased.

With the foregoing conditions in mind-this invention has in view, as its foremost objective,

the provision of a shipping tag including an eyelet to which a wire tie element is attached by a novel arrangement, eliminating the outlined difficulties. A lb More in detail, the invention has in view, as

i an object, the provision of a shipping tag formed with an eyelet into which a wire tie element is secured by first folding the wire tiefelement back on itself to provide a 'double strand of wire tersmall twisting arc, thus forming sharp turns in inserting in a bight. The bight is passedthrough the eyeletland the double strand immediately the twisting are for thewire is longer, as the double strand. presents a greater thickness. Furthermore, in lieu of the single strand that provides a cutting edge in the eyele't,'two strands closelyadjacent one another are'providedwhich have an appreciable breadth to materially decrease, if not entirely'elimiriate, this hazard.

Another important advantage of the invention is that thebight atthe end of the double strand afiords a loop that may be employed as an anchor forthe free end of the tie element.

If the main body portion of the wire tie is to'be a single strand, thedouble strand structure is continued back o'nlysufliciently far to effect vantages of .the invention will in part become 'apparentand in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds. y

The invention, therefore, comprises a shipping tag including a wire tieelement that is formed witha bight providing a double'strand structure or the "tie ofsuflicient length to permit the bight to be passed through the eyeletin the tag and twisted back over adoiible strand of the wire, leaving the bight available as ananchoringloop.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying draw ing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view inside elevation showing the improved wire tie element of this invention after it is passed through the eyelet and. prior to twist- Figure 2 is a view taken normal to the showing of Figure 1, developing the arrangement after the twisting has been completed.

Figure 3 is a side view similar to Figure showing the free end of thetie anchored in the bight, and l ,7 i

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the tag including the twin strand tie element,

40, which it is passed through the bight 15 in .the manner shown in Figure 3. The single strand may be twisted back on itself to complete the formed with an opening ll, defining the eyelet l of the tag. The opening H is preferably. reinforced by patches I2, a patch being secured to the tag T on each face by the use of a suitable adhesive.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 develop a showing ofthe sin- Figure 1, it is noted that a"strand of wire is is doubled back on itself a required length, the doulbled backv portion being designated. I4, to define a bight'jili. This bight I5. is passed. through the eyelet l I, as "depicted in Figure 1. After the eyelet has been passed'throug'h theopening, the double strand structure is continued back above the upper edge of the tag T to provide twodouble strand structures which are available for twisting about one another. I

Figure 2 shows the arrangement after the twist-- ing has been eifected, and it is particularly notable that the double strandstructure provides a comparatively long twisting arc in the wire which eliminates unduly sharp turns or bends in the wire, which would tend to weaken the same. The twisting is identified by the reference character it, and it will be carried out in such a manner as to leavethe bight I5 free as an anchoring means.

The free end of the wire'tie' l3, which is designated I1, is then passed around the article or package to which the tag is to be secured, after anchorage, asillustrated.

Figure ishows a modification in that the single strand tie I3 is replaced bya twin tie designated l8. The actual structural connection of the twin strand it to the tag Tis the sameas that above described. The only material difference in effecting the connection'is in the relative location of the bight l5. U In the form of the invention shown inFi'gures 1, 2 and the bight I 5 is not formedat. the center of the lengthof wire, but more'closely adjacent one end thereof. 'When the twin strand of Figure 4 'is to be employed, thebight l5 formed substantially in the middle of the length of wire, providing a tie element that is'of a dou- 2,194,697 swi t Referring now to the drawing, wherein like ble strand throughout its entire length. After formation of this double strand arrangement, the bight I5 is passed through the eyelet and twisted back upon itself in the manner above described, and the bight l5 may also be employed as an anchorage in a manner above described.

While preferred specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that theinventionis not to be limited to the exact constructions illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice, within the purview of the appended claims.

Ic1aim:. 1. A shipping-tag of the character described comprising a'tag member formed with an eyelet, gle strandtype of wire tie. .First referring to and a-.wire tie element having a considerable length extending free of the tag and adapted to encircle an article, said tie element being attached to the tag member by a connection consisting. of a double strand structure defined by forming a bight in the wire tie, "said double strand structure being twisted back'on itself leaving the bight available as an anchoring loop substantially at said twist, said anchoring loop being adapted to be engaged by the free end of said tie element after an article has been encircled thereby.

2. A shipping tag of the character described comprising a tag member formed with an eyelet, a single strand wire tie element having a bight formed adjacent one end providing a double strand structure at that-end, the said double strand structure passing through the eyelet and being'twisted back upon itself, with said bight disposed substantially at the twisted portions.

3. A'shipping tag of the character described comprising a tag member formed with an eyelet, a twin strand wire tie element consisting of a length of wire having a'bight formed substantially in the -middle of said length, the end of the twin strand tie element that carries said bight being passed through the eyelet and twisted back on a'portion of said twin strand adjacent to said tag member, with said bight substantially at said twist, and twin strand portions included in said length of wire and adapted to encircle an article. 4. .A shipping tag of the character described comprising a'tagmember carrying an attaching eye1et,a1wi re .tie element having one end free for encirclingan article and its other end attached 

